Fertilizer-distributer.



O. LEWIS.

FERTILIZER DISTBIBUTER.

APPLICATION rum) NOV. 12, mos.

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0. LEWIS. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTEB.

APPLICATION FILED NOV; 12, 1908.

- Patented June 8, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Maw/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIN LEWIS, OF GALIVANTS FERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

Application filed. November 12, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIN Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Galivants Ferry, in the county of Horry and Stateof South Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements inFertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fertilizer distributers, and one of theprincipal objects of the same is to provide a simple, reliable andefiicient device for uniformly distributing guano or other fertilizingmaterial of similar character.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a drivechain is constantly moved across the bottom inside the hopper in orderto carry a uniform quantity of the fertilizer out through the feedopening of said hopper, means being provided for regulating the flow,and means also being provided for disconnecting the drive chain from itssprocket wheel in order that the machine may be conveyed from place toplace after discharging the fertilizer.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fertilizer distributer made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view illustrating the meansfor disconnecting the drive chain from the sprocket wheel to render thefeeding mechanism inoperative.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the beam consistingof parallel members connected together at their front ends by means of across bar or block 2 having a draft bar 3 secured thereto and a clevis 4connected to said draft bar. The bolt for securing the clevis in placeon the bar 3 is provided with a wrench head 5. Connected to the crossbar or block 2 are the diverging nieniL ers 6 to which in the rear thehandles 7 are connected. Secured to the rear ends of the n1 embers 6 arethe standards 8 to which the coverer blades 9 are secured.

The centrally disposed ground wheels 10 are spaced apart and providedwith an axle j ournaled in hangers depending from the beams 1. Betweenthe wheels 10 is a sprocket wheel 11 secured by bolts 12 to the spokesof the wheels. Mounted upon the beams is a frame 13 in which isjournaled the shafts 14 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Serial No. 462,287.

and 15, each shaftcarrying a sprocket wheel 1 6 preferably of the samediameter. Mounted upon the frame 13 is a box or hopper 1'7, the walls ofwhich converge toward the bottom 18. Formed in the front wall ofthehopperis an opening 19, and the rear wall is provided with a feedopening 20 having a sliding regulator door 21 fitted in guides at thesides of said opening and provided with an adjusting lever 22, thelatter extending through keepers 23 and provided with rack teeth 24 forholding the regulator in adjusted position, a handle 25 being formedupon the end of the lever. A drive chain 26 passing around the sprocketwheels 16 and through the hopper serves to deposit a uniform quantity ofthe fertilizer upon the ground during the oper ation of the machine,said drive chain being actuated by the sprocket wheel 11.

In order that the sprocket chain 26 may be disconnected from thesprocket wheel 11 to prevent the feeding of the machine I have provideda lever 27 mounted in a rack 28 depending from one of the handles 7,said lever at its lower end being provided with a shaft 29 mounted inkeepers 30, said shaft having an offset portion or loop 31 which extendsunderneath the drive chain 26. l/Vhen the lever 27 is depressed thedrive chain 26 is lifted until it disengages the sprocket wheel 11.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows :Asthe machine is drawn over the ground the drive chain 26 moves throughthe bottom of the hopper and drops a uniform quantity of fertilizerwhich may be regulated by means of the lever 22 and the sliding door 21.The coverers 9 follow the distribution of fertilizer to throw the dirtover the fertilizer. Whenever it is desired to convey the machine fromplace to place without feeding the fertilizer, the lever 21 is operatedto raise the lower stretch of the drive chain 26 from the teeth of thesprocket wheel 1 1.

My invention is of simple construction, can be manufactured at low cost,is efficient in operation, is composed of few parts which cannot readilyget out of order and is light of draft.

I claim:

1. A fertilizer distributer comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on saidframe and provided with openings in the front and rear walls thereof, asliding door mounted for adjustment upon the rear wall of said hopper, apair of sprocket wheels mounted in the frame, a drive chain passingaround said sprocket Wheels and extending through said hopper forfeeding the fertilizing material, ground wheels, a sprocket wheelsecured to the axle of said ground wheels to actuate said drive chain,and means for disconnecting said drive chain from said sprocket wheel.

2. A fertilizer distributer comprising a frame, ground wheels mounted insaid frame, a sprocket wheel connected to said ground wheels, a hopper,sprocket wheels mounted underneath the hopper, a drive chain passingaround said sprocket wheels and through the hopper, means for regulatingthe feed, and means for disconnecting said drive chain from the mainsprocket wheel.

3. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of a hopper providedwith a feed opening, means for regulating the feed, a drive chainextending through the hopper for carrying the fertilizer through saidopening, means connected to the ground wheels for actuating said drivechain, and means for disconnecting said drive chain from the drivingmeans.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a hopper,a drive chain extending through the hopper to feed the fertilizer, meansconnected with the ground wheels for actuating said drive chain, and alever for lifting the lower stretch of said drive chain from theactuating means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIN LEWIS.

Witnesses: I

W. F. BROOKS, W. F. MoNEILL.

